Emma Buckett helps GB to reign in Spain (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Emma Buckett helps GB to reign in Spain

8:00am Sunday 3rd February 2013 in Sport

BASINGSTOKE and Mid Hants athlete Emma Buckett helped Great Britain to victory over Spain and France at an international combined events match held in Valencia, Spain.

The meeting was Buckett’s first international event as an under-23 – but she made light of the step up from the junior ranks, finishing third individually as Britain claimed overall victory.

The 19-year-old clocked 8.97seconds to finish third in her heat of the 60metre hurdles before clearing 1.68m in the high jump, the best height achieved in the competition.

A leap of 5.75m earned her third place in the long jump, while a throw of 10.66m in the shot and a good run of 2min 24.51sec in the final event, the 800m, saw Buckett amass 3,856points, just 44 short of her personal best, to claim the bronze medal.

Joining Buckett in Spain was clubmate Ben Hazell, who took part in the senior men’s heptathlon.

The 28-year-old clocked 8.57sec for the 60m hurdles, cleared 1.92m in the high jump, threw the shot 12.99m, ran the 60m in 6.46sec, leapt 6.43m in the long jump, cleared 4.11m in the pole vault and ran the 1,000m in 2:42.09.

Britain finished fourth in the five team competition, ahead of Spain but behind France, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands.

Back in this country, another Basingstoke and Mid Hants athlete, young sprinter Myles Richardson, made a good start to the year.

The 16-year-old clocked a new personal best of 7.08sec for the 60m at the London Games, which were held a Lee Valley, a time that leaves him ranked third in the British under-17 standings.